Weekend Cooking: Restaurants in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Today, I am combining Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Melinda at A Web of Stories, with Weekend Cooking, hosted by Beth Fish Reads. Check out both blogs for some other great links this weekend!

My husband and I had a mini weekend getaway two weeks ago to Rehoboth Beach, about two hours away in our tiny state of Delaware (that's about as far as you can go and still be in the state!). We always try to take a little trip around late February or early March, when we are feeling sick of winter and in a bit of a rut. Usually, we try to explore someplace new (fabulous weekend in Annapolis last March), but this year, we decided to visit an old favorite. When our kids were young, we took an off-season trip to Rehoboth almost every year at this time. You can see some of my beach and wildlife photos from the trip on last week's Saturday Snapshot post.

One of Rehoboth's charms is the wide variety of wonderful restaurants it offers! I had read in the newspaper about a lot of new restaurant openings since our last visit, so we tried a few of those, along with some old favorites. These are all worth checking out:

Cooter's Brown's Twisted Southern Kitchen and Bourbon Bar
Just the name caught our attention, as one of our favorite bars when we lived in New Orleans was also called Cooter Brown's (turns out he was a real life guy who lived on the Mason-Dixon line during the Civil War), as did the menu, with a focus on classic southern dishes with a modern twist. It's located on the second floor right on Rehoboth Avenue (the main street), where Hooters used to be - this is a big improvement! They have outdoor patio dining for nicer weather and a cozy fireplace that was perfect for the cold, wet day we were there. My husband ordered the fried chicken, and I ordered a barbeque sampler. Both meals were excellent and came with our choice of sides, which were really outstanding. I had Brussels Sprouts (fried with bacon!) and collard greens, and my meal also came with toasted jalapeno cornbread. Everything was wonderful, and my favorite of the barbeque sampler was the super-tender brisket, but the sides really made the meal. My husband sampled from their extensive whiskey menu. All in all, it was a lovely, cozy meal with delicious food and good service.

Green Man Juice Bar & Bistro
It wouldn't be a trip to Rehoboth for us without a stop at Green Man for breakfast! This Rehoboth standard is located on the first floor of a house on Wilmington Avenue, just one block off Rehoboth Avenue. They're open for breakfast and lunch, every day except Tuesday, and offer a variety of healthy and delicious options, including lots of juice blends and smoothies. The breakfast menu has things like breakfast bowls, grain bowls, waffles, egg sandwich, and daily frittata and quiche selections. This time, my husband got the quiche (broccoli and cheddar), and I ordered the frittata (artichoke hearts and parmesan). Both were served with a side salad and fresh fruit and were delicious.

Note the "Can I eat now?" look!

Go Fish!
For lunch on Saturday, we took some friends who've recently moved to the area to another of our favorite Rehoboth spots, Go Fish!, a British fish and chips place with a large menu. It is owned and run by real Brits and features authentic fish and chips, shepherd's pie, mushy peas, and other British classics, as well as a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, and main dishes. Most of us ordered the fish and chips, which are delicious. The Brit-centric ambience is fun, and they also offer a nice selection of British beers. Once during lunch at Go Fish! we spotted Hoda Kotb among the diners, a Rehoboth local during summer weekends. That was a real thrill, and now we are best friends (in our minds). Note that the owners have opened a second location, Go Brit, on Route 1 near Lewes, but it is more of a take-out place (though you can eat in cafeteria style) - we still prefer the original, a half block from the beach on Rehoboth Avenue.

 
Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats
Dogfish Head is a well-known and nationally-respected Delaware microbrewery. They recently built a whole new building for their brewpub/restaurant on Rehoboth Avenue (next door to their old place, which is now a restaurant called Chesapeake and Maine, also run by Dogfish Head). We are long-time fans of Dogfish Head beers and food, but this was our first time in their new digs. It's a huge, 2-story warehouse-style building with a stage for live music and a casual menu, mainly focused on burgers, sandwiches, and appetizers (Chesapeake and Maine seems like it has more of a dinner menu). My husband ordered one of their wood-fired pizzas, and I had their shrimp tacos, with a side of roasted veggies. Everything was delicious and very well-prepared. The tacos were so good that I ate all three of them (I usually only eat two) and then felt stuffed when we left! The roasted veggies were probably the best I've ever eaten (and we eat them a lot). It was a great meal, but it is a loud, wide-open place, and I'd like to try Chesapeake and Maine the next time we are in town, for a cozier vibe and more dinner and seafood options.

Egg
On Sunday morning, we tried one of Rehoboth's newer restaurants, Egg. It specializes in breakfast and lunch, and its very creative menu reminded me of our favorite breakfast place in New Orleans (Ruby Slipper). So many great choices! My husband ordered a Breakfast Oyster Po' boy (a New Orleans-style riff on Eggs Benedict), and I ordered their Paleo Pleasure. Both meals were flavorful and satisfying, accompanied by their hot, rich coffee. We'll definitely go back to sample some other items on the varied menu.

Paleo Pleasure

Fractured Prune
No trip to the beach would be complete without a stop at Fractured Prune on Route 1, which serves hot, fresh donuts, custom-made to your specifications, with various glazes and toppings. They are the best donuts we have ever eaten! This stop, my husband ordered the Bacon Bomb, with maple glaze and real bacon pieces on top (on the left in the photo), and he is still talking about it two weeks later! I ordered my own specialty: maple glaze with chocolate chips and coconut. Flavor explosion! The donuts themselves are just as good as the varied toppings, with a slight crunch to the outside and hot, tender dough inside. We each ordered one extra to take home with us (20 seconds in the microwave revives that hot, fresh vibe), and they were just as mouth-watering in the evening. I see from their website that they have loads of new locations now (including one in a town we are going to on Monday!), so be sure to check them out if you are in the Mid-Atlantic region. Your life will be forever changed - they're just that good.

The Pickled Pig Pub
It was raining on Sunday, so it was a perfect day for a little outlet shopping along Route 1. Before we headed for home, we wanted a quick lunch, so we tried another new-to-us restaurant, The Pickled Pig Pub. This one was tricky to find, tucked into a small strip shopping plaza on busy Rt. 1 near Lewes, but our GPS said it was "right there," so we persevered until we spotted it! This small gastro pub packs a lot in. The decor is a surprising rustic warehouse look inside, with a long wood bar and plenty of tables. Everything on the menu sounded wonderful, though after a weekend of good food, we both chose to stick to the lighter side. The lunch menu offers a wide variety of soups, salads, apps, sandwiches, and burgers, and everything sounded delicious. I ordered the Asian Bistro Salad with Salmon on top, and every bite was full of flavor. My husband went with a basic corned beef sandwich on rye, which he said was very good - and of course, served with a hefty half dill pickle. The pub has a cozy, fun atmosphere and offers all kinds of deals throughout the week. I think all they are missing is a bigger sign!

Ah, it was a wonderful - and very tasty - weekend at the beach. Just the respite we needed. If you're headed to the Delaware beaches, all of these restaurants are worth a stop. What are your favorites in Rehoboth?

Did I mention the donuts at Fractured Prune??